We cruised Norway Fjords on MSC Virtuosa and didn't book a single excursion. Here's what we saw instead
Planning on cruising Norway Fjords? You don't necessarily need expensive cruise excursions to experience the best of Norway. We explored Lerwick, Måløy, Flåm and Kristiansand independently, finding historic sites, viewpoints, scenic walks and unforgettable fjord scenery, all while keeping costs down.
Many will tell you the excursions are the whole point of a Norway cruise. Book the fjord tour. Book the cable car. Book the train to the viewpoint. Book the whatever-it-is that costs £120 a head and gets you on a bus with forty other people.
We didn't book a single excursion. And honestly? We didn't feel like we missed Norway. Instead, we did something much simpler: we got off the ship, looked around, and explored each port for ourselves. And then there was the scenic cruising, which, frankly, was the bit you couldn't improve with an excursion anyway.
The research that actually paid off
Before we sailed, we spent some time looking properly at each port. Not just at what the excursion desk was selling, but at what was actually accessible independently. It quickly became apparent if we booked on excursions we’d be looking at doubling the cost of the cruise. We wanted the balance of seeing the famous stuff without spending a fortune, and still having time to just enjoy being on a ship in Norway.
Lerwick
Our first stop was Lerwick, where we kept things simple and explored the area around the port ourselves. We headed on foot through the town centre and out to Clickimin Broch, an Iron Age ruined fort. The sort of place that helps you realise you don't necessarily need a paid excursion to find something genuinely fascinating.
There was something brilliant about standing among the remains and imagining what this place would have looked like thousands of years ago. No coach. No organised group. No schedule beyond our own. Just a bit of ancient history, some fresh air and a chance to explore.
Opposite was a Tesco, so we jumped in there and bought a few Meal Deals for lunch, carrying them over to the beach which was steps away. Dining on the huge rocks, exploring the rock pools. The sky might have been grey but the atmosphere and views were beautiful. The solitude of the beach, the calm, was so nice after a day and a half on the busiest ship we’ve known.
Måløy
Måløy was another reminder that the interesting stuff isn't always the thing being sold on the excursion list. We spent some time learning about the impact of the Second World War on the area before heading back to the ship for lunch. As the crowds headed back toward the ship we headed out again. Heading up hill to The Horn Viewpoint (Ellingskarhornet) and trekking a gentle 5km loop around the Skramsvatnet Lake and hiking area.
It was exactly the sort of Norwegian experience we'd hoped for: dramatic landscape, a little history, and the freedom to stop whenever we wanted to take photographs or just stare at the view. And because we weren't trying to cram six attractions into one organised tour, it actually felt like we'd experienced the place rather than simply ticked it off.
Top Tip: We learned that even on longer port days, the masses will head off ship early to their excursions and get back early. Which leaves the ship desolet in the morning and the port so much quieter later on. Information we used through the rest of our cruise.
Flåm
Flåm was probably our favourite port and the best example of why you don't necessarily need to book the headline excursion. We delayed our exit from the ship until after lunch. No queues to get off the ship, and the port was so much quieter.
Ant headed off to explore the train museum, which was free while I took a completely different route.
I walked the roughly two-mile scenic route inland towards Flåm Old Village, taking my time and enjoying the scenic valley rather than rushing from one attraction to another.
And then I reached one of those unexpected little travel moments that you can't really plan. I mean I planned to find the 17th-century church, hand-painted with intricate, distinctive imagery.
But the unexpected element was the patterns immediately reminded me of Frozen not because it was some Disney attraction, but because the decoration had that wonderfully Nordic, almost storybook quality. I was thrown into all kinds of memories and the joy swirled in my head. It was exactly the kind of discovery that makes independent exploring so rewarding.
One port, two completely different afternoons and we both came back with a story worth telling the other over dinner.
Then there was the scenery
This deserves its own section because the scenic cruising of the Norway Fjords cruise was unbelievable.
You can book all the excursions available, but there is something very special about simply standing on the ship as it moves through the Norwegian landscape.
Fjords rising around you. Water stretching ahead. The wake pushing against the craggy horizon. Tiny settlements appearing between the mountains. Waterfalls cutting through the landscape.
And the best part? You don't have to do anything. No coach. No walking tour. No queue. Just find a good spot on deck and watch Norway go past.
It was one of those times when the journey genuinely felt like part of the destination.
Kristiansand
By the time we reached Kristiansand, we'd completely embraced the independent approach. We did a self-guided walking tour through the city, taking in the famous White Houses of Posebyen, wandering through the centre and eventually making our way down to the Fish Market.
Again, no complicated logistics. Just a map, comfortable shoes and enough time to explore at our own pace. And that's really what worked about this cruise for us. We weren't trying to prove we could do Norway for £0. We were trying to spend our money where it actually added something.
It's also a genuine coolcation
And let's talk about the weather. While parts of the UK and Europe can be absolutely roasting in July, Norway gave us something rather different. Cooler temperatures, fresh air and the sort of weather where sitting on deck with a hoodie actually feels perfect.
For anyone who looks at a 30°C forecast and thinks absolutely not, a Norwegian summer cruise makes a pretty compelling alternative. Especially when your "holiday activity" can be standing on deck watching some of the most spectacular scenery in Europe drift past.
Top tips for Norway Fjords cruise
Don't assume you need an excursion in every port. Look at what's genuinely accessible independently before you book.
Research the port, not just the excursion list. Find the viewpoints, historic sites, walking routes and free attractions first.
Leave room for wandering. Some of our favourite moments came from simply following a route and seeing what we found.
Split up if it makes sense. Ant's train museum afternoon and my walk to the old village gave us two completely different stories from the same stop.
Don't underestimate scenic cruising. Check the sailing route and spend time on deck. Some of the best views of the trip happen when you're not going anywhere at all.
Spend the money you save selectively. Independent cruising doesn't have to mean doing everything for free. It means choosing where your money actually makes a difference.
We didn't need the coach tour to see Norway properly. We needed a bit of research, comfortable shoes, a willingness to explore and a ship sailing through one of the most spectacular landscapes we've ever seen.
And honestly?
That's probably how we'd do it again.
